"It could not have started - or ended - any better for a retooled Coyotes team.

Two players obtained the previous day before the NHL's trade deadline scored early and late goals, lifting the Coyotes to a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night in front of an announced crowd of 12,426 at Jobing.com Arena.

The winning goal was scored by Wojtek Wolski with 23 seconds remaining.

Lee Stempniak's first shot with the Coyotes with 6:13 elapsed in the game gave his new team an early boost. Radim Vrbata scored an empty-net goal, his 21st, with one second remaining.

"We found a way to win it and not lose it," coach Dave Tippett said after the Coyotes had snapped a three-game losing streak and reached 81 points, two more than last season's total. The Coyotes reclaimed the fourth spot in the Western Conference standings.

Ilya Bryzgalov won for the 33rd time this season, tying a franchise record. He made 23 saves, the lone goal he allowed coming on a power play. "